Head for kegs of pressurized drinks

ABSTRACT

A head for kegs of pressurized drinks comprises: a body, provided with means for coupling to a keg containing a drink; a piston movable between a first lowered position for opening a shutter of the keg and a second raised closure position; a lever for actuating the fork hinged on a stem thereof, subject to elastic means tending to make it rotate in the direction opposite that of actuation, to allow the stabilization of the operating fork in the first and in the second position of the piston; the actuating lever and the stem defining in combination a handle for the operating fork, the stem of the fork and the actuating lever being characteristically formed in such a way that, at least bilaterally to the handle, in correspondence at least with the lower segment of the handle where the first three fingers of the hand that sustains the handle act, there are no openings with variable port during the actuation of the lever.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a head for kegs of pressurized drinks.

[0002] In the field of drinks distribution from dispensing systems provided with dispensers, the drinks, to be distributed, generally carbonated, are contained in pressurized kegs. Such kegs must be connected, on one side, to the drinks dispenser and, on the other, to a line of pressurized gaseous carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide, pressing on the free surface of liquid, causes the liquid to exit from a suction system towards a line connecting to the dispenser.

[0003] To obtain this dual connection of the keg to the carbon dioxide line and to the dispenser, heads are used which are connected, by means of various types of couplings (for instance, sliding, triangular or bayonet), to the upper face of the keg in correspondence with a shutter. In general the body of the headers for kegs of pressurized drinks has an inlet for a line conveying pressurized carbon dioxide, which is connected in a vertical guide of a piston. Internally to the piston is obtained a duct for the passage of the liquid contained in the keg. The upper end of the piston is external to the guide and bears a rubber-holder or an attachment for the line conveying the drink to the dispenser. With the head connected to the keg, when the piston is raised, its lower end remains distanced from the shutter, which stays shut. When the piston is lowered, its lower end opens the shutter of the keg and is connected to the suction system, whilst, simultaneously, the carbon dioxide can enter the keg, exert its pressure on the free surface of the liquid and thrust the drink outwards. The piston is actuated by means of an operating fork positioned astride the piston and hinged to the end of its two tines on the body of the head at the opposite side of the piston relative to the stem of the fork. The operating fork can be rotated in the plane of lay of the piston, acting manually on the stem. Geometric interference means between the fork and the piston determine the motion of the piston according to the motion of the fork itself. The operating fork can be locked in one of its extreme positions (corresponding to the two extreme positions of the piston for opening and closing the shutter), or released to move the piston.

[0004] Heads for kegs of pressurized drinks are known in which a knob, inserted coaxially on the stem, is operatively connected to a pin that is partially internal and coaxial to the stem. The pin projects towards the tines of the fork. On the body of the head, in correspondence with the two extreme positions of the operating fork, two seats for the insertion of the pin are obtained. Pulling the knob along the axis of the stem, therefore, it is possible to disengage the pin from the first (or from the second) seat and move the fork to the second (or to the first) seat. Elastic contrast means cause the pin to engage in this latter second (or first) seat, locking the operating fork again.

[0005] The heads described above have some drawbacks.

[0006] The operation is awkward, because, in order to overcome the force of the elastic contrast means and disengage the pin, the knob must be moved away from the body of the head along the axis of the stem of the operating fork. Moreover, between the knob and the pin, mechanical backlashes are present (or easily emerge with use) that can make imprecise the operation of the device.

[0007] Also known are heads for kegs of pressurized drinks, in which the stem of the operating fork is constituted by a substantially rectilinear box element, whose cross section is shaped substantially as an inverse “U”. In the stem, in correspondence with the body of the head, is partially inserted and hinged an end of an operating lever, which is also box-like, substantially rectilinear and with a length comparable to that of the stem, having “U” shaped cross section opposite that of the stem. The lever and the stem are kept mutually diverging by elastic contrast means and define, in proximity to the hinge, a mortise for the insertion of a tenon integral with the body of the head. At rest, the distance between stem and lever progressively grows moving away from the body of the head.

[0008] When the lever is set down on the tenon, the operating fork is rotated upwards, the piston is raised and the shutter is closed. When the tenon is inserted in the mortise, the operating fork is rotated downwards, the piston is lowered and the shutter is open. To move from one position to the other, the operating lever has to be disengaged from the tenon. This can be done by simultaneously gripping and mutually approaching the stem and the operating lever in opposition against the action of the elastic contrast means.

[0009] Although it allows for a better grip and a more agile maneuver, this type of heads for kegs of pressurized drinks, however, is also not free of drawbacks.

[0010] During the motion of the lever relative to the stem, which is necessary to operate the fork and hence the piston, the palm of the operator's hand and his/her fingers are exposed to the free edges of the box elements constituting the lever and the stem where the lever at least partially telescopes into the stem thereby giving rise to scissors, with the consequent risks of cuts or wounds to the operator.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0011] The aim of the present invention is to overcome the aforesaid drawbacks, making available a head for kegs of pressurized drinks which allows easily to open and close the shutter without any hazards of wounds or cuts to the operator's hands.

[0012] Another aim of the present invention is to make available a head for kegs of pressurized drinks that is ergonomic and convenient to use.

[0013] These aims and others beside, which shall become more readily apparent from the description that follows, are achieved, in accordance with the present invention, by a head for kegs of pressurized drinks as described in the accompanying claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] The invention is disclosed in greater detail hereafter with the aid of the drawings, which show an embodiment provided purely by way of non limiting example.

[0015]FIGS. 1 and 2 show a perspective schematic view of a head of the invention respectively with the piston in the position for opening and closing the shutter;

[0016]FIGS. 3 and 4 show median vertical section views corresponding respectively to FIGS. 1 and 2;

[0017]FIGS. 5 and 6 show lateral views corresponding respectively to FIGS. 1 and 2;

[0018]FIG. 7 shows a plan view of the subject invention shown in FIG. 5.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0019] With reference to the figures, the number 1 indicates a head for kegs of pressurized drinks of the type comprising a body 2, provided with means 3 for coupling to a keg (not shown) containing a drink. Said means can be constituted by a triangular, sliding or (as shown in the figures) bayonet coupling, depending on the type of attachment present on the keg. A piston 4 is provided with an internal duct for the passage of the drink contained in the keg and is movable, coaxially to a guide 42 obtained in the body 2, between a first lowered position for opening a shutter of the keg and a second raised position for closing the shutter. A fork 5 for actuating the piston 4 between the first and the second position is positioned astride of the piston 4 itself and pivotally engaged, at the end of its two tines 51, on the body 2 of the head 1 at the opposite side of the piston 4 relative to a stem 6 of the fork 5. Geometric interference means between the fork 5 and the piston 4 cause the piston 4 to move according to the motion of the fork 5.

[0020] The operating fork 5 can be locked in one of its two extreme positions (corresponding to the two extreme position of the piston 4 for the opening and closing of the shutter), or freed to move the piston 4. A lever 7 for actuating the fork 5 is hinged on the stem 6, is subject to elastic means 71 tending to make it rotate in the opposite direction from that of actuation and allows the stabilization of the operating fork 5 in the first and in the second position of the piston 4, by the jamming of an end 72 of the lever 7 on at least a fixed abutment 8. The disengagement of the end 72 of the lever 7 from the jamming on the fixed abutment is obtained by pulling the lever 7 towards the stem 6 in opposition against the action of the elastic means 71.

[0021] The operating lever 7 and the stem 6 define in combination a handle 66 for the operating fork 5 and, characteristically, are shaped in such a way that, at least bilaterally to the handle 66, in correspondence at least with the lower segment 67 of the handle 66 where the first three fingers of the hand that sustains the handle 66 act, there are not openings with variable port during the actuation of the lever 7. The operator's hand, therefore, is always protected.

[0022] In an embodiment of the invention, free upper edges 73 of the lever 7 constantly remain, during its actuation, inside the volume of the stem 6, in correspondence with a cavity 9 complementary to the contour of the lever 7. In this way, the operator's hand is not exposed to hazardous free edges acting like the blades of a pair of scissors.

[0023] Advantageously, moreover, at least the lower segment 67 of the grip 66, where the first three fingers of the hand that sustains the handle 66 act, is contoured anatomically. The grip and manipulation of the operating fork 5, therefore, is greatly facilitate and wholly safe.

[0024] Conveniently, in a preferred embodiment of the invention, the stem 6, in correspondence at least with the lower segment 67 of the grip 66 where the first three fingers of the hand that sustains the handle 66 act, has closed conformation and the lever 7 is reduced to a simple trigger 10, which can be operated with the index finger of the hand.

[0025] In addition, advantageously, the stem 6, in addition to being inferiorly shaped in anatomical fashion, blends with the trigger 10, which in turn is shaped in naturally anatomical fashion for accommodating the index finger.

[0026] Advantageously, moreover, the trigger 10 has, anteriorly to its rotating hinge 11, a hollow projection 12, to lock in stable but removable fashion the piston 4 in the first position by inserting the fixed abutment 8 inside it, as well as to lock in stable but removable fashion the piston 4 in the second position by contrast setting on the fixed abutment 8.

[0027] Advantageously, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the stem 6 comprises a core 68 and two outer shells 69, 70, removably fastened to each other and to the core 6. The outer shells 69 and 70 can be made of plastic material.

[0028] The operation of the invention is as follows. Once the head 1 is coupled to the keg, it is connected to a line for conveying carbon dioxide (not shown) and to a conduit for feeding a dispenser (not shown). The fork 5 is rotated upwards, With the piston 4 stably maintained in the second position (raised, for closing the shutter of the keg) by the jamming of the end 72 of the lever 7 against the fixed abutment 8 (in particular, for instance, by the setting of the hollow projection 12 in contrast on the fixed abutment 8). Gripping the handle 66 and pulling the lever 7 towards the stem 6 in opposition against the action of the elastic means 71 (in particular, for instance, by pulling the trigger 10), the operating fork 5 is disengaged and can be made to rotate in such a way as to bring the piston to the first position for opening the shutter. At this point, a new jamming of the end 72 on the fixed abutment 8 (in particular, for instance, by means of the insertion of the fixed abutment 8 inside the hollow projection 12 due to the reaction of the elastic means 71) locks the piston 4 in the first position. The closing of the keg is achieved with the inverse movements.

[0029] The invention achieves important advantages.

[0030] First of all, the ease of operation determined by the presence of the lever 7 is combined with the complete protection of the operator's hand from scissors-like movements of the parts of the device, thereby eliminating cutting or wounding hazards.

[0031] In the second place, a configuration is obtained with a high degree of ergonomics and gripping ease.

[0032] The invention thus conceived can be subject to numerous modifications and variations, without thereby departing from the scope of the inventive concept that characterizes it.

[0033] Moreover, all components can be replaced by technically equivalent elements.

[0034] In practice all materials employed, as well as dimensions, may be any, depending on requirements 

What is claimed:
 1. A head for kegs of pressurized drinks of the type comprising: a body, provided with means for coupling to a keg containing a drink; a piston provided with an inner duct for the passage of the drink contained in the keg and movable, coaxially to a guide obtained in the body, between a first lowered position for opening a shutter of the keg and a second raised position for closing the shutter; a fork for actuating the piston between the first and the second position, situated astride the piston itself and pivotally engaged, at the end of its two tines, to the body of the head at the opposite side of the piston relative to a stem of the fork; a lever for actuating the fork hinged on the stem, subject to elastic means tending to make it rotate in a direction opposite to the direction of actuation, to allow the stabilization of the operating fork in the first and in the second position of the piston by means of the jamming of an end of the lever on at least a fixed abutment; the operating lever and the stem defining in combination a handle for the operating fork, wherein the stem of the fork and the operating lever are shaped in such a way that, at least bilaterally to the handle, in correspondence with at least the lower segment of the handle where the first three fingers of the hand that sustains the handle act, there are no openings with variable port during the operation of the lever.
 2. A head as claimed in claim 1, wherein the free upper edges of the lever constantly remain, during its operation, inside the volume of the stem, in correspondence with a cavity complementary to the contour of the lever.
 3. A head as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the stem, in correspondence with at least the lower segment of the handle where the first three fingers of the hand that sustains the grip act, has closed conformation and the lever is reduced to a simple trigger, which can be operated with the index finger of the hand.
 4. A head as claimed in claim 2 or 3, wherein at least the lower segment of the handle, where the first three fingers of the hand that sustains the handle act, is shaped anatomically.
 5. A head as claimed in claim 3, wherein the stem is inferiorly shaped anatomically and blends with the trigger which in turn is shaped in naturally anatomical fashion to accommodate the index finger.
 6. A head as claimed in claim 5, wherein the trigger has, anteriorly to its rotation hinge, a hollow projection to lock in stable but removable fashion the piston in its first position by means of the insertion of the fixed abutment in its interior, as well as to lock in stable but removable fashion the piston in the second position by contrast setting down on the fixed abutment itself. 